Holy wars

When Martin Luther King Jr. Day arrives in January, I doubt you will hear commentators at MSNBC denigrating that heroic leader of the Civil Rights movement by claiming he improperly crossed the boundary line between church and state when he demanded that the laws of this country protect the God-given rights of blacks. They would not have the nerve.

Recent programs on MSNBC, however, have attacked America’s Roman Catholic bishops for making arguments based on exactly the same principles the Baptist minister King invoked while challenging racist statutes because they were contrary to the natural law and the law of God.

As the Media Research Center’s Scott Whitlock first noted, NBC News Chief Medical Editor Nancy Snyderman accused the Catholic bishops of improperly breaching the separation of church and state when they advocated an amendment to the House health care bill that would prohibit tax dollars from paying for health insurance plans that cover abortion. Ms. Snyderman made the accusation on the Nov. 12 episode of her MSNBC program, “Dr. Nancy.” Her guest that day was Terry O’Neill, president of the National Organization for Women.

“The Catholic bishops appearing and having a political voice seems to be a most fundamental violation of church and state,” said Ms. Snyderman.

“You know, that’s the first thing that I said,” responded Ms. O’Neill. “I don’t know where the Internal Revenue Service is, but I hope they’re paying attention.”

“Me, too,” said Ms. Snyderman.

On MSBNC’s “Morning Joe” on Nov. 23, MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell attacked Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Providence, R.I. Bishop Tobin’s perceived offense was having sent a private letter to Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Rhode Island Democrat, almost three years ago advising Mr. Kennedy that in light of his persistent support for the legalized killing of unborn babies Mr. Kennedy should refrain from receiving Holy Communion. The bishop’s discreet instruction to Mr. Kennedy became public last weekend only after Mr. Kennedy himself revealed it to the Providence Journal.

“This is a political act by a political bishop,” said Mr. O’Donnell. “Political bishops do the church absolutely no good. This guy’s - this bishop is a political hack.”

That evening, Chris Matthews invited Bishop Tobin onto MSNBC’s “Hardball.” While appearing to turn the other cheek to Mr. Matthews’ lecture-like don’t-let-your-guest-get-a-word-in “interviewing” style, the mild-mannered bishop made some quietly powerful statements.

“Should the law outlaw, should it ban abortion?” Mr. Matthews taunted him. “Is that what a good Catholic should do? Because you’re instructing people now how to vote. So, tell Catholics now on television how they should vote as members of Congress?”

“Sure,” the bishop responded. “Catholics should vote as members of Congress on laws that preserve and protect human right.”

“Would you outlaw it?” asked Mr. Matthews.

“Absolutely, because abortion is the taking of an innocent life,” the bishop said.

“Right, I know. Right,” said Mr. Matthews. “So that’s where your difference is with president - with Congressman Kennedy. He wouldn’t outlaw it. Isn’t that your difference?”

“That’s a huge difference,” the bishop said.

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